abstraction 
ences of form, colour, etc. This is the dillicnlt part of the 
operation. Crcal ditlercnci ^ are apt to impress tin; mind, 
;iinl it requires a special ell'oi't to tin-it aside from tliem 
and to keep the mind directed to the underlying similarity. 
This clt'ort is known us ,ibxtn<ftii,u. 
N','//'/. Outlines of 1'syclinlnuy. i\. 
This was an a:-:e ol' vision aini inyste] 1 } ; anil every work 
was believed to contain il double or secondary meaning. 
Nothing escaped tliis eccentric spirit of relinemeiit and 
abstraction. '/'. Wnrlon, Hist. Kn.u. Poetry. 
3. A concept which is tho product of an ab- 
stracting process; a metaphysical concept; 
hence, often, an idea which cannot lead to any 
practical result; a theoretical, impracticable 
notion; a formality; a fiction of metaphysics. 
Ariel, delicate us an iiMrtirtwii. of the dawn anil (Wiper 
sunlight, flies around the shipwrecked men to console 
them. A. II. Welsh, Eng. Lit., I. 388. 
Tangents, sines, and cosines are not things found iso- 
lated in Nature, but, because they are abstraction* from 
realities, they are applicable to Nature. 
V. II. Lewee, Profos. of Life and Mind, I. i. 71. 
The arid abstractions of the schoolmen were succeeded 
liy the fanciful visions of the occult philosophers. 
/. It' Israeli, Amen, of Lit., II. 285. 
4. Inattention to present objects ; the state of 
being engrossed with any matter to the exclu- 
sion of everything else ; absence of mind : as, 
a fit of abstraction. 
Keep your hoods about the face ; 
They do so that affect abstraction here. 
Tennyson, Princess, ii. 
The tank was nearly five feet deep, and on several occa- 
sions I narrowly escaped an involuntary bath as I entered 
my room in moments of abstraction. 
0' Donovan, Merv, xi. 
5. In distillation, the separation of volatile 
parts from those which are fixed, it is chiefly 
used with relation to a fluid that is repeatedly poured 
upon any substance in a retort and distilled off, to change 
its state or the nature of its composition. Abstraction 
from singulars but not from matter, in the Scotist 
logic, the degree of abstraction required to form such 
a concept as that of a white man, where we cease to 
think of the individual man, but yet continue to attend 
to the color, which is a material passion. Concrete 
abstraction, Sameas partial abstraction. Divisive ab- 
straction. Same as negative abstraction. Formal ab- 
straction the mental act of abstraction, as distinguished 
from the resulting concept. Intentional abstraction, 
mental abstraction ; separation in thought. Logical ab- 
straction, that process of abstractive thought which pro- 
duces a general concept. Mathematical abstraction, 
the act of thinking away color, etc., so as to gain pure ge- 
ometrical conceptions. Metaphysical abstraction, a 
process of abstraction carried further than the mathemati- 
cal. Minor abstraction, a kind of abstraction involved 
in sensuous perception, according to the Thomists. Neg- 
ative abstraction, separation of one concept from an- 
other in the sense of denying one of the other. Objec- 
tive abstraction, the concept produced by the act of ab- 
stracting. Partial abstraction, the imagining of some 
sensible thing deprived of some extensive part, as a man 
without a head. Physical abstraction, abstraction 
from singulars; that grade of abstraction required in 
physics. Precislve abstraction, the thinking of a part 
of a complex idea to the neglect of the rest, but without 
denying in thought those predicates not thought of. 
Real abstraction, the real separation of one thing from 
another, as the (supposed) abstraction of the soul from the 
body in ecstasy. 
abstractional (ab-strak'shon-al), a. Pertain- 
ing to abstraction. H. Huxlmell. 
abstractionist (ab-strak'shon-ist), n. One who 
occupies himself with abstractions ; an ideal- 
ist ; a dreamer. 
The studious class are their own victims : . . . they are 
abstraetionixts, and spend their days and nights in dream- 
ing some dream. Emerson, Montaigne. 
abstractitiOUSt (ab-strak-tish'us), a. [< L. as 
if "abstractitius : see abstract, .] Abstracted 
or drawn from other substances, particularly 
from vegetables, without fermentation. Bailey, 
abstractive (ab-strak'tiv), a. [= F. abstractif, 
< L. as if * abstracting, < abstractus, pp. : see 
abstract, v.] 1. Pertaining to abstraction; 
having the power or quality of abstracting. 
2. Pertaining to or of the nature of an abstract, 
epitome, or summary. St. Abstractitious. 
Abstractive cognition, cognition of an object not as 
present. 
The names given in the schools to the immediate and 
mediate cognitions were intuitive and abstractive, meaning 
by the latter term, not merely what we with them call 
abstract knowledge, but also the representations of con- 
crete objects in the imagination and memory. 
Sir ('. Hamilton, Lectures on Metaph., xxiii. 
abstractively (ab-strak'tiv-li), adv. In an ab- 
stractive manner ; in or by itself ; abstractly. 
[Rare or obsolete.] 
That life which afatnti'tirfiiils good, by accidents and 
adherences may become unfortunate. 
l-',-ltli<il. Kcsolves, ii. ISC.. 
abstractiveness (ab-strak'tiv-nes), n. The 
property or quality of being abstractive. 
[Rare.] 
abstractly (ab'strakt-li), adr. In an abstract 
manner or state ; absolutely ; in a state or man- 
25 
ner unconnected with anything else ; in or by 
itself: as, matter abstractly considered. 
abstractness (ali'strakt-ncs), >i. Tho state or 
quality of being abstract; a state of being in 
contemplation only, or not connected with any 
object : as, " the aostractnest of the ideas them- 
selves." l.iii-l.-i; Human Understanding. 
abstrahent (ab'stra-hent), a. [<L. abx/ra- 
ln'ii(t-)s, ppr. of iibxtnihcri; draw away: see 
iibxtruct, .] Abstract, as concepts ; abstract- 
ing from unessential elements. 
abstrich (ab'strik ; G. pron. ap'strich), . [G., 
< (tbatrcielien, wipe off : see w^'aiid strike.] Lit- 
erally, that which is cleaned or scraped off. 
Technically, in int'tal., the dark-brown material which 
appears on the surface of lead in a cupcling-fnrnace, and 
becomes pure litharge as the process goes on. Attain is a 
nearly equivalent term. 
abstrictedt (ab-strik'ted), a. [< L. as if *ab- 
xtrivtus, pp. of "abstringere : see abstringe and 
strict.] Unbound; loosened, liailcy. 
abstraction (ab-strik'shon), n. [< L. as if *ab- 
strictio(n-), < "abstrictus, pp. : see abstricted.] 
1. The act of unbinding or loosening. [Obso- 
lete and rare.] 2. In hot., a method of cell- 
formation in some of the lower cryptogams, 
differing from ordinary cell-division in the oc- 
currence of a decided constriction of the walls 
at the place of division. 
abstringet (ab-strinj'), v. t. [< L. as if *ab- 
stringcre, < abs, from. + stringerc, bind : see 
stringent.] To unbind. 
abstrude (ab-strod'), v. t. ; pret. and pp. ab- 
struded, ppr. abstriuling. [< L. abstrudere, throw 
away, conceal, < abs, away, + trudere, thrust, 
push (= E. threaten, q. v.), remotely akin to E. 
thrust, q. v. : see also abstruse.] To thrust 
away. Bailey; Jolmson. 
abstruse (ab-stros'), a. [< L. abstrusus, hid- 
den, concealed, pp. of abstrudere, conceal, 
thrust away : see abstrude.] If. 'Withdrawn 
from view ; out of the way ; concealed. 
Hidden in the most abstruse dungeons of Barbary. 
Shelton, tr. of Don Quixote, I. iv. 15. 
2. Remote from comprehension; difficult to 
be apprehended or understood ; profound ; oc- 
cult ; esoteric : opposed to obvious. 
It must be still confessed that there are some mys- 
teries in religion, both natural and revealed, as well as 
some abstruse jwints in philosophy, wherein the wise as 
well as the unwise must be content with obscure ideas. 
Watts, Logic, Hi. 4. 
The higher heathen religions, like the Egyptian religion, 
Brahmanism, and Buddhism, are essentially abstruse, and 
only capable of being intelligently apprehended by specu- 
lative intellects. Faitlw of the World, p. 349. 
abstrusely (ab-stros'li), adv. In an abstruse 
or recondite manner; in a manner not to be 
easily understood. 
abstruseness (ab-stros'nes), n. The state or 
quality of being abstruse, or difficult to be un- 
derstood; difficulty of apprehension. 
abstrusion (ab-stro'zhon), n. [<L. abstrusio(n-), 
a removing, a concealing, < abstrudere : see ab- 
strude.] The act of thrusting away. [Rare.] 
abstrusity (ab-stro'si-ti), n.; pi. abstrusities 
(-tiz). [< abstruse + -Ity.] Abstruseness; that 
which is abstruse. [Rare.] 
Matters of difficulty and such which were not without 
abstrusities. Sir T. Broume, Vulg. Err., vii. 13. 
absumet (ab-sum'), v. t. [<L. absumere, take 
away, diminish, consume, destroy, < ab, away, 
+ sumcre, take : see assume.] To bring to an 
end by a gradual waste; consume; destroy; 
cause to disappear. Boyle. 
absumptiont (ab-sump'shgn), n. [< L. absump- 
tio(n-), a consuming, < absumere, pp. absumptus, 
consume : see absume.] Decline ; disappear- 
ance; destruction. 
The total defect or abfumption of religion. 
Bp. Gailden, Eccl. Ang. Susp. 
absurd (ab-serd'), a. and n. [=F. absurds = 
Sp. Pg. absurdo = It. assurdo, < L. absurdus, 
harsh-sounding, inharmonious, absurd ; a word 
of disputed origin: either (1) 'put of tune,' < fib, 
away, from, + "surdus, sounding, from a root 
found in Skt. */ si'ar, sound, and in E. (Gr.) 
siren, q. v. ; or (2) < ab- (intensive) + surdus, in- 
distinct, dull, deaf, > E. surd, q. v.] I. a. 1. 
Being or acting contrary to common sense or 
sound judgment; inconsistent with common 
sense; ridiculous; nonsensical: as, an absurd 
statement ; absurd conduct ; an absurd fellow. 
There was created in the minds of many of these en- 
thusiasts a pernicious anil absurd association between 
intellectual power and moral depravity. 
Macaulait, Moore's Byron. 
Specifically 2. In lot/iu or pliilos., inconsis- 
tent with reason; logically contradictory ; im- 
abthanage 
possible: as, that tho whole is less than the 
sum of its parts is an nlixurtl proposition; an 
absurd hypothesis. 
It would be absurd to measure with a variable stan- 
dard. //. .S'/ </' -"i ial Statics, p. 44. 
- SyH. AlfSIII-'l, Xi/llf, /<Vy//s//, ,S'/ i/l'i'l, I n-'ltiiKKl! , I'n 
,-<'<i*<nuilil>', /'. Iiirntiifiti'fl. ridiculous, non- 
sensical, senseless, incongruous, unwise, ill-judged, ill- 
advised. (See/owuA.) OToJM, otewd, and / 
imply a contradiction of common sense, rising in d 
from foolish, which is commonly applied where tin u 
tradictiun is small or trivial. That which is foolish is 
charaetcri/,ed by weakness of mind, ami provokes our 
contempt. That which is silly is still weaker, and more 
contemptible in its lack of sense; silly is tile extreme in 
that direction. That which is absurd does not directly 
suggest weakness of mind, but it is glaringly opposed to 
common sense and reason ; as, that a thing should be un- 
equal to itself is absurd. That which is preposterous is 
the height of absurdity, an absurdity as conspicuous as 
getting a thing wrong side before ; it excites amazement 
that any one should be capable of such an extreme of foolish- 
ness. That which is irratinnal is contrary to reason, but 
not especially to common sense. Unreasonable is more 
often used of the relation of men to each other ; it implies 
less discredit to the understanding, but more to the will, 
indicating an unwillingness to conform to reason. Irra- 
tional ideas, conclusions ; unreasonable demands, assump- 
tions, people. An infatuated person is so possessed by a 
misleading idea or passion that his thoughts and conduct 
are controlled by it and turned into folly. He who is 
stupid appears to have little intelligence ; that which is 
stupid is that which would be natural in a person whose 
powers of reasoning are defective or suspended. 
'Tis a fault to heaven, 
A fault against the dead, a fault to nature, 
To reason most absurd. Shak., Hamlet, i. 2. 
I'rom most silly novels we can at least extract a laugh ; 
but those of the modern-antique school have a ponderous, 
a leaden kind of fatuity, under which we groan. 
Oeorije Eliot, Silly Novels. 
How wayward is this foolith love ! Shak.,1. G. of V., i. 2. 
A man who cannot write with wit on a proper subject 
is dull and stupid. Addition, Spectator, No. 291. 
The brave man is not he who feels no fear, 
For that were stupid and irrational. 
Joanna Baillie, Basil. 
She entertained many unreasonable prejudices against 
him, before she was acquainted with his personal worth. 
Addison. 
Though the error be easily fallen into, it is manifestly 
preposterous. Ii. Taylor. 
~ The people are so infatuated that, if a cow falls sick, it 
is ten to one but an old woman is clapt up in prison for it. 
Addison, Travels in Italy. 
II. n. An unreasonable person or thing; one 
who or that which is characterized by unrea- 
sonableness ; an absurdity. [Rare.] 
This arch absurd, that wit and fool delights. 
Pope, Dunciad, i. 221. 
absurdity (ab-ser'di-ti), . ; pi. absurdities (-iiz). 
[=F. absufdite = Sp. absurdidad = Pg. absurdi- 
dade = It. assurditu, < L. absurdita(t-)s, absur- 
dity, < absurdus: see absurd.] 1. The state or 
quality of being absurd or inconsistent with 
obvious truth, reason, or sound judgment ; want 
of rationality or common sense : as, the absur- 
dity of superstition ; absurdity of conduct. 
The absurdity involved in exacting an inexorable con- 
cealment from 'those who had nothing to reveal. 
De Quituey, Essenes, ii. 
2. That which is absurd ; an absurd action, 
statement, argument, custom, etc.: as, the 
absurdities of men; your explanation involves 
a gross absurdity. 
And this absurdity for such it really is we see every 
day people attending to the difficult science of matters 
where the plain practice they quite let slip. 
M. Arnold, Literature and Dogma, xii. 
= Syn. 1. Absurdness, silliness, unreasonableness, aelf- 
contradiction, preposterousness, inconsistency. See/oUy. 
absurdly (ab-serd'li), adv. In an absurd man- 
ner; in a manner inconsistent with reason or 
obvious propriety. 
absurdness (ab-serd'nes), n. Same as absurdity. 
abterminal (ab-ter'mi-nal). a. [< L. ab, from, 
4- terminus, end.] From the terminus or end : 
applied to electric currents which pass in a 
muscular fiber from its extremities toward its 
center. 
abthain, abthane (ab'than), . [Sc. ; formerly 
also spelled abtliein, abthen, abtlian, abbathaiu, 
etc. ; < ML. abtliania, an abbacy, < Gael, ab- 
dliaine, an abbacy. The origin of ML. abthania 
not being known, it came to be regarded as 
the office or dignity of an imaginary itbthnnus, 
a word invented by Fordun, and explained as 
' superior thaue,' as if < L. abbas, father (see 
abbot), + ML. thamis, E. thane.] 1. An abbacy 
(in the early Scottish church). 2. Errone- 
ously, a superior thane. 
abthainry, abthanrie (ab'than-ri), . [Sc., 
<, ilitlniiii, abt/Kine, +-ry.] 1. The territory and 
jurisdiction of an abbot; an abbacy. 2. Erro- 
neously, the jurisdiction of the supposed ab- 
thain. See abthain, 2. 
abthanage (ab'tha-naj), n. Same as abthainry. 
